The Two Year Old Trophy at Redcar is one of the leading two-year-old races of the Flat season. Many of the fastest two-year-olds in the UK and Ireland will be contesting this Listed contest over 6f at Redcar.
The Guisborough Stakes and Sdde Smith Group Straight-Mile Series Final Handicap are two of the other highlights on the card from the North Yorkshire venue on Saturday
2.45 William Hill Two Year Old Trophy (Listed, 6f)
With three victories from his four starts this season, DRAGON LEADER has shown he is a very fast two-year-old, with his only defeat coming in the Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes where he finished second behind Room Service on ‘Soft’ ground.
Clive Cox’s runner showed no signs of inexperience when he scored in back-to-back novice races at Salisbury earlier in the season. The second of those came under a penalty.
He then landed the Premier Yearling Stakes at York, a race featuring 22 runners. He made all in that contest, scoring by over four lengths.
A return to the ‘Good’ ground will be appreciated by the son of El Kabeir here. Based on what he has already produced in his career, he is the one they all must beat in the feature at Redcar.
Flaccianello deserves her place in this field after two wins from her last three outings in nurseries. Richard Fahey’s filly remains open to improvement, and she has plenty of experience on her side, unlike many of her rivals.
3.55 Racing TV EBF Stallions Guisborough Stakes (Listed, 7f)
STREETS OF GOLD got off to a sensational start to his career last season as a two-year-old, winning all five of his races on the track, including the British EBF £100,000 2Yo Series Final at York.
Unfortunately for his connections, he has yet to add to his tally in 2023.
Although he hasn’t been in the winner’s enclosure this year, there have been some positive performances from Eve Johnson Houghton’s runner.
He was a close third in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and he wasn’t too far behind Lezoo last time out at Newmarket. This looks like a good opportunity for the 107-rated gelding to bounce back to victory.
Awaal prevailed at this course 12 months ago to break his maiden. His highlights this season include a second-place finish in the Lincoln and a third place in the Royal Hunt Cup.
The ratings suggest he should be a big player in this 7f Listed contest.
4.30 – Sdde Smith Group Straight-Mile Series Final Handicap (1m)
Rebecca Menzies’ gelding PAINTERS PALETTE has shot up the ratings over the last couple of seasons.
He was victorious on his penultimate outing at Wolverhampton (1m1½f). He then came home third of eight runners at Ayr (1m2f) from this same mark of 91.
The four-year-old is dropping back down to 1m and there is a strong case to suggest that this is his optimum trip. He has also been given a favourable draw which will make life easier for Oisin Orr out of the stalls in this 17-runner field.
Poet’s Dawn comes into this race at the bottom end of the weights, having got into this field with a C&D victory here last month.
This mark of 72 remains workable for the experienced eight-year-old gelding who is more than capable of winning a race of this quality.
